The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1887-09-02

the house but ourselves9 l continued;
Who could there be, George9 Tell
me what has happened
"Scerng my puzzled expression, she
smiled, looked at me quizzicaIIy' n
kissed me. / felt angry with myself
for having walked her, yet glad to have
her sweet companionship.
"'Laura,' / began, conscious that l
was about 20 make a very foolish state
mrut, + have just had an experience
that [ cannot explain. You know what
my views are on the subject of the
SUPERNATURAL
She Interrupted me with 4 laugh
a pleasant, girIish laugh that did me
good. Taking my hand in both her
own, she said:
"'Oh, George, l really thought it
was someth ng serious. Was 1t only "
ghost?'
Pray be serious, Laura. While |
sat at my desk. a few moments ago a
hand touched me on the shoulder Just
as you have done a hundred times
More than that, Laura, II was Your
touch
You fancied it. George
81 felt the touch, Laura, as surely
as | feel the pressure Of your hands at
this moment. There was no deception;
it was not a delusion; Il hand touched
me. Who was it? What was it?:
Laura glanced quickly over her
shoulder, as W people ar apt to
do when alone in the house late at
night.
~ wonder if the house is haunted?
she Queried, laughingIy.
Il went to bed; but not tO sleep. The
incident. trivial as it may seem, mysti-
fed and worried me. 1t called for an
explanation. which l could not give.
There was no superStitiOuS fear to it,
my reason rebelled at any but a natural
solution of the mystery, and l eXhauS-
ed my ingenuity in e~ndeaVOring to
reach a solution. l reviewed the Oc-
currenCe over and over again. 1t Is I'M
possible to picture here my unspeaE-
able amazement, when. touched upon
the shoulder BY Il soft hand, | turned
and found behind me-nothing! The
mystery became 4 part of my dreams.
"a few nights after this incident Oc-
Cured | was again writing at my desk.
A chill air was blowing through the
wire screen at my side. 1t had grown
late, but not later than it was my Gus
tom to work. Without football, voice
or warning, the touch came again upon
the same shoulder and in the same
manner. | felt it as plainly as ever
felt the touch of a human hand. Quick
as a flash | turned, rising to my feet to
prevent any possibility of hiding or
escape. The room was empty; the door
remained closed as | had left it.
Did you even turn f~iercely to strike
an enemy back of you, and tind-noth-
ing? l was not frightened; anger was
the predominant feeling. | was 20
scious of being the victim of a shrewd
deception. | felt that this mysterious
presence, this nameless and immaterial
something, was inimical to me. / was
eager to materialize it. corner it, under
stand it. 1t would have delighted me
to learn that / was the victim of a
practical joke, as that would have
barred the supernatural.
'Laurar l cried, going to the door.
"In a few moments / heard the rus
tie of her dress on the stairway.
VIVA is it, George she asked, as
she burst eagerly into the room.
"'Something has touched me on the
shoulder again. | replied. What can
it beP'
81 wish I knew said Laura, draw
ing very near to me, and looking about
the room with a mystified and fright
ened expression. I'm sure | can't see
anything
E" Were you asleep when | called?'
"tNo. l was reading
Ibid you here anYthing?'
Mot a sound. Sit down at your
desk again, George, just as you sat
when the hand touched you. have
an idea.
Il did so, bending over as if in the
act Of writing.
Laura approached me softly. Icould
hear her footballs very family. and laid
her hand just where the mysterious
touch had come, and even more gently.
Laura!' cried l, springing up,
you did it! What a fool you have
made Of met
George, she exclaimed, her great
dark eyes filing with tears. Il did not
do it. | know nothing about it. How
you doubt ne
81 do not doubt you, little wife.
said !, reassuringly; but / begin to
doubt myself
II put out the light and we went up
together. both in rather a sombre
mood. II, after all, it was really a
spirit hand that touched me, what did
il meanp Did it portend misfortune Of
some kind, deathP Unconsciously / began
to grow morbid upon the subject. With
the slightest basis on which to begin an
investigation / should not have des-
paired. But what was there to invest
igateP Without the aid Of sight and
hearing reason faltered; the simple act
Of feeling the touch awaited me nothing.
y ddt C~0uStusi0u cOutu 1rarrIye at out
that the touch was supernatural.
Twice upon the street / was con-
scious Of the same strange touch, In
broad daylight, when so deception was